Rahm Emanuel: 'Pennsylvania is secure'

11/4/12 9:11 AM EST

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Sunday rejected the idea that Mitt Romney may take Pennsylvania on Tuesday, saying, “I think Pennsylvania is secure.”

“I’ve seen other polls that have the president in a comfortable margin,” Emanuel said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But it comes down to a four-letter word: jobs.”

The former White House chief of staff pointed to the most recent October jobs numbers, which showed that the economy had added 171,000 jobs, as a sign that the economy continues to be on an upward trajectory under President Obama.

“I think people know it’s no time to go backwards,” he said.

Recent polls have shown Romney closing in on President Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, and both the GOP presidential nominee and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, plan to campaign in the state over the weekend.